Scientists have helped unravel the protective – and potentially harmful – effect of iron in the body.
Scientists have helped unravel the protective – and potentially harmful – effect of iron in the body.
In a series of early-stage studies examining genetic data from over 500,000 people, a team of international scientists, led by Imperial College London, explored the role that iron plays in over 900 diseases.
The results reveal not only are naturally higher iron levels associated with a lower risk of high cholesterol levels, they also reduce the risk of arteries becoming furred with a build-up of fatty substances.
However the research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, also revealed the potential risks associated with naturally higher iron levels. These included a higher risk of blood clots related to slow blood flow blood – a common cause of stroke – and a higher risk of bacterial skin infection.
Read more at Imperial College London
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